“Genitourinary syndrome of menopause is caused by
a decrease in estrogen production. Less estrogen
makes your vaginal tissues thinner, drier, less elastic…”.¹

Umbrella

What may the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

Definition

What is the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM)?

DotS the definition of GSM may vary. On page one in Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, published May 2025, the (United States) Menopause Society’s (formerly the North American Menopause Society) definition is:

“The genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) includes bothersome vaginal, vulvar (lips of the vagina), and urinary symptoms that can affect quality of life, sexual satisfaction, and even your relationship with your partner. Unlike hot flashes, which typically improve with time, GSM usually worsens over time without treatment”.²

Common or Not

How common is GSM in postmenopausal women?

In Symptoms of Menopause: Bladder, Vaginal and Vulval Problems the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:

Symptoms

What may be symptoms of GSM?

In Vaginal Atrophy: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms the (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:

Cause

What causes GSM?

In Vaginal Atrophy: Symptoms & Causes – Causes the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Genitourinary syndrome of menopause is caused by a decrease in estrogen production. Less estrogen makes your vaginal tissues thinner, drier, less elastic and more fragile”.⁵

Common or Not

How common is GSM?

In Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Key Points the Australasian Menopause Society note:

Treatment

What are some GSM treatments?

On page one and two in Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause the Menopause Society elaborate on:

“There are many effective treatment options for GSM, including over-the-counter and prescription therapies. Therapies for less severe symptoms include nonhormone over-the-counter lubricants used as needed for sexual activity and moisturizers used regularly (several times per week) to maintain moisture. Prescription therapies include low-dose vaginal estrogens, vaginal dehydroepiandrosterone inserts, and oral ospemifene. Nonhormone lubricants and moisturizers can be used in combination with prescription therapies for more severe symptoms.

• “Nonhormone Remedies
  • Vaginal Lubricants…
  • Vaginal Moisturizers…
  • Regular Sexual Stimulation…
  • Expanding Your Views of Sexual Pleasure…
  • Vaginal Dilators…
  • Pelvic Floor Exercises…
• Vaginal Hormone Therapy…
  • An effective and safe treatment, low-dose local estrogen applied directly to the vagina…
  • FDA-approved low-dose vaginal estrogen products…
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; Prasterone)
  • Low-dose vaginal estrogen or DHEA may be options for women with a history breast or uterine cancer…
• Systemic Estrogen Therapy
• Other Therapies…
  • Ospemifene
  • Vaginal Laser Therapy…”.⁷

Painful Intercourse

How may painful intercourse be resolved?

The Mayo Clinic explain:

Vaginal Estrogen

Is vaginal estrogen placed directly into the vagina?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use, published February 2025, the Menopause Society explain:

“If you are bothered only by vaginal dryness, you can use very low doses of estrogen placed directly into the vagina. These low doses generally do not raise blood estrogen levels above postmenopause levels and do not treat hot flashes. You do not need to take a progestogen when using only low doses of estrogen in the vagina”.⁹

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: AUA/SUFU/AUGS Guideline (2025)

What is the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: AUA/SUFU/AUGS Guideline (2025), published April 2025, endorsed by The International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) and The Menopause Society (TMS)?

In Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: AUA/SUFU/AUGS Guideline (2025) the authors elaborate on:

What is AUA, SUFU and AUGS?

In the context above, these abbreviations stand for the:

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have GSM?

If you think you have GSM it is important to talk to your health care provider. In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause – Effectiveness: Local Treatment of Urogenital Atrophy, published online 01 December 2023, the authors note:

In Symptoms of Menopause: Bladder, Vaginal and Vulval Problems – Urinary Symptoms the JH explain:

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Links

Where may I find Links related to Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

• Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use [February 2025]
• FDA Expert Panel on Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women [17 July 2025]
  
• Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause [May 2025]
• Hormones and Urinary Symptoms In Women | Dr Louise Newson [17 August 2025]
  
• Non-Hormonal Treatments Offer Relief for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause [17 May 2025]
• Webinars: Previous – The Burn, the Itch, the Pain, the Urge: GSM In Women [15 April 2025]
  

1. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
   
2. BMS TV: Urogenital Atrophy
3. Bladder Control: Lifestyle Strategies Ease Problems
4. Bladder Diary
5. Bladder Diary
6. CAMS Menopause Hour: Genitourinary Wellness In Women [Council of Affiliated Menopause Societies]
   
7. Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: An Evidence Map
8. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
   
9. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use [February 2025]
10. Do Home Remedies Work for UTIs?
11. Douching
12. Estradiol (Vaginal Route)
13. Experiencing Vaginal Dryness? Here’s What You Need To Know
14. Experts Answer Your Menopause Questions In New Video
    
15. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
16. Find An AMS Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
17. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
18. Gaslighting of Genitourinary Symptoms of the Menopause
    
19. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
20. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
21. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause [Video]
    
22. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause [Podcast]
23. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause and the False Promise of Vaginal Laser Therapy
24. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: AUA/SUFU/AUGS Guideline (2025)
25. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: A Systematic Review on Prevalence and Treatment [Video]
26. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: New Name, Old Problem
27. HRT Questions Answered
    
28. Hormonal Treatments and Vaginal Moisturizers for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: A Systematic Review
29. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
30. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen – Common Questions About Vaginal Oestrogen
31. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen – How and When To Use Vaginal Oestrogen
32. Hormones and Urinary Symptoms In Women | Dr Louise Newson
    
33. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Bladder Leakage
    
34. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Menopause
35. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Painful Sex
36. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: Find A Provider
37. Is It Too Late To Start HRT?
    
38. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
39. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Sexual Wellbeing, Intimacy and Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Is the End of Your Sex Life]
    
40. Low Estrogen Bladder Symptoms and Treatment
41. Lubricant Alternatives: What To Use and What To Avoid
42. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
    
43. Mayo Clinic Minute: Menopause and Sexual Health [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
    
44. Mayo Clinic Q and A: 6 UTI Myths and Facts
45. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Perimenopause Transitions and Concerns
46. Menopause
47. Menopause
48. Menopause Checklist Podcast: Episode 1: A Wee Problem
49. Menopause Checklist Podcast: Episode 6: Hello Lubricant!
50. Menopause Management Options
51. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    
52. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    
53. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
54. Menopause Ruining Your Sex Life?
55. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
    
56. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024
57. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
    
58. Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help
59. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
60. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
    
61. Non-Hormonal Treatments Offer Relief for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
62. Painful Vaginal Sex (Dyspareunia)
63. Pelvic Floor Health | Dr Louise Newson LIVE
    
64. Perimenopause
    
65. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    
66. Preventing Urinary Tract Infections After Menopause: What Every Woman Should Know
67. Questions To Ask Your GP About Menopause
68. Struggling With UTIs After Menopause? Experts Say This Can Make A Difference
69. Surprising Menopause Symptoms Q&A | Dr Louise Newson
    
70. Symptoms of Menopause: Bladder, Vaginal and Vulval Problems
71. The 2020 Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
72. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
73. The Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: An Overview of the Recent Data
74. The AUA/SUFU/AUGS Guideline on Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
75. Therapeutic Choices for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) In Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Update
76. Treating Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause In Breast Cancer Survivors
77. Treating Incontinence During Your Perimenopause and Menopause Years
78. UTI: This Common Infection Can Be Serious
79. Urogenital Problems
80. Urologic View In the Management of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
81. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
    
82. Vaginal Atrophy
83. Vaginal Atrophy
84. Vaginal Dryness
85. Vaginal Dryness
86. Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It? I’m postmenopausal and often have vaginal dryness, which makes intercourse painful. Is there anything I can do about it?
87. Vaginal Dryness: Alternative Treatments
88. Video & Podcast Library: Videos – World Menopause Day 2024: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
    
89. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
90. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
91. Vulval Irritation
92. Vulvovaginal Atrophy
93. Webinars: Previous – The Burn, the Itch, the Pain, the Urge: GSM In Women
94. What Is the Difference Between Vagifem and Estring?
    
95. What Types of Vaginal Oestrogens Are There?
    
96. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning
    
97. Which Vaginal Moisturiser Should You Use?
    
98. World Continence Week 2025 [16-22 June 2025]
    
99. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
100. World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women – The 5 Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at: